Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/989753
STiR coffee and tea 35 0 Tea Coffee CSD JNSD Packaged LDP Other All Water Beverages 16.7% 10.0% 14.5% 12.1% 26.7% 16.4% 16.4% 9.3% 13.8% 11.3% 29.7% 15.6% 3.9% 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 2017 2021 3.7% Tea Coffee CSD Juice Bottled Water Dairy Other Beverages The majority of RTD sales are happening at supermarkets and hypermarkets. These large-scale retailers accounted for 33.5% of revenue in 2015. And as the number of large chains grows in the U.S. and abroad, sales of RTD tea through these channels are expected to rise as well. Some brands are teaming up with large distributors for exclusive product rights, like Argo Tea is doing with Whole Foods. Their single estate cold-brew bottled teas will be available through the Amazon owned re- tailer, with premium flavors like First Flush Dar- jeeling, First Flush Gyokuro, and Armenian Mint. Just as important as where people are buying their RTD tea is how they're buying it – either in cans, glass, or PET bottles. And the clear winner here is the PET bottle, holding over 31.5% of the market. Cans and glass bottles follow close behind at 28% and 24% respectively. But glass especially may see a surge in popularity, with global brands like Teavana packaging their Craft Iced Teas in sleek glass bottles. Brands like Teavana, which sold 1.9 million bottles since teaming up with Anheuser Busch InBev are also likely to see an advantage in sales through Starbucks cafés, as rising interest in café culture drives RTD sales. Brands selling directly through cafés will be well-positioned to take ad- vantage of this ongoing growth. Food service Share of Throat 2017 vs 2021 Liquid Refreshment Beverage Growth Source: ManSci Huzaifa Nalawa Global Dubai Tea Forum presentation April 2018 channels, which includes cafés, are likely to see the fastest-growth of any dis- tribution channel, with a CAGR of 6.5% from 2016-2024. Health leading the charge Thinking of tea as a health drink is nothing new. But today we're seeing how age-old health wisdom around tea is being applied by brands to deliver those benefits to on-the-go consumers, who don't have time to brew their own tea. With illnesses like heart disease, cancer, and diabetes on the rise, more people today are interested in self-nutrition as a part of their preventative